“It is truly an honor to serve as the new Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate,” Chandler said. “I am grateful and humbled by the Senate President's confidence in my ability to help her move Massachusetts forward.”

The shift in leadership were made possible by former Majority Leader Senator Frederick E. Berry, who retired at the close of 2012, and former Assistant Majority Leader Senator Jack Hart, who resigned to seek a government relations position at the firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.

Flanagan has been re-appointed vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for the 2013-2014 legislative session. Flanagan has been serving as the vice chairman for the past year, after being promoted from the assistant vice chairman position.

“I am proud to be re-appointed as vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. I am grateful to Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) for this opportunity and look forward to serving again with Chairman Steve Brewer (D-Barre),” Flanagan said. “I am looking forward to a thoughtful discussion on the many proposals we have seen come forth in the past several weeks and how to best move forward as a Commonwealth.”

The duty of the Committee on Ways and Means is to consider all matters relating to the finances of the Commonwealth.